The Leading Women of Africa (LWA) 2015 Summit and Exhibition was held on the 3rd of December in Durban at the Olive Convention Centre. According to the Premier of KwaZulu Natal, Mr Senzo Mchunu, it was important that such a summit aimed at fighting gender based injustices is hosted by the KwaZulu Natal province as it currently leads a campaign on anti-abuse and anti-rape of women in the province.
The mayor of Durban, Councillor James Nxumalo, stated that the summit serves as a platform to talk about pertinent issues affecting women throughout the continent of Africa. He hoped that it will provide solution driven debates which those in attendance will take back and implement in their communities. The summit attracted dignitaries and renowned women from South Africa and other parts of Africa. Some of the issues discussed at the summit were gender based violence, economic empowerment of women, women in leadership positions and the role that men play in advancing women.
The head of the Centre for Women Leadership at Mancosa [GSB], Dr Claudine Hingston, was one of the speakers for this momentous summit and she chaired a panel on the topic – ‘Policy as a tool to advance women economic empowerment in Africa’. Dr Hingston steered the panel to debate on the need for policy relating to women in business to provide clear legislative guidelines and actions to create an enabling environment for women to transition from informal to the mainstream economy of their respective countries. Dr Hingston further steered the panel to debate on how policy could be tailored to enable women to access big economic opportunities. At the end of the discussion, Dr Hingston invited the audience to ask questions to which members of the panel responded.
CWL Head at Leading Women of Africa (LWA) Summit and Exhibition
CWL Head with some speakers and delegates at the summit